Hot Mess Espresso

This week, I'm hanging out with Dayton, Anthony, and Evan from Best Days Behind for a conversation about music, mental health, creativity, and never giving up on what you love. From songwriting and stage stories to anxiety, therapy, and finding your voice, this episode is packed with laughs, honesty, and plenty of pop-punk nostalgia. Find them on Instagram: @bestdaysbehindfl

Society as a whole "thinks" they understand disability, until Tye’s story smacks them right in the face. From childhood milestones to a brutal healthcare system, Tye lays out the raw, unfiltered truth of living with muscular dystrophy and navigating a world that often seems designed to dismiss or ignore him. We break down the myths around disability, why society still sees us as "less than," and h...

“You cannot wait to be motivated to create.” Most couples kill their creative momentum by trying to do everything alone, and then there's Taylor Joy Stevens and Cobain Rivers. These founders, parents, and creative souls reveal the secret sauce behind blending business, family, mental health, and a whole lotta love without losing your mind or your flow. From turning coffee into a creative catalyst...

Olga Lastovetska defied the odds, beating stage 3 ovarian cancer at 27 with unconventional treatments and sheer determination. Her main drive? Wanting to preserve her fertility & become a mother one day. The journey she carved for herself challenges misconceptions about cancer, highlighting the power of personalized medicine, mental resilience, and nutrition. Listen in to dive into how she too...

Most people would throw in the towel when diagnosed with terminal cancer, but Mellissa? She fights like a pro, breaking every rule and redefining what it means to truly live. Faced with a stage four diagnosis, she turned her fears into furious action, spending her savings, challenging the system, and leaning on her fierce support squad to keep pushing forward. In this unapologetically real convers...

Juju Green (aka Straw Hat Goofy) sat down with me this week and we dove right into it: how he took the scenic route and ended up rubbing elbows with Tom Cruise, Ryan Coogler, and movie legends while casually dropping Netflix-worthy stories. In this episode of wild tales, Juju shares how he went from growing up in Compton to becoming the go-to guy for Hollywood premieres, exclusive interviews, and...

So many of us want to break the silence around mental health and trauma, but few dare to share the raw, unfiltered truth. Carolyn Dreyer did, and her story is a rollercoaster of pain, resilience, and breakthrough that made me speechless for the first time in 128 episodes. From unprocessed grief and survival shame to harrowing assaults and the fight to regain safety, her journey is a masterclass in...

Ever wondered what it takes to turn a childhood dream into a radical community movement? Meet Che Monique, founder of the Society of Fat Mermaids, who went from stapling paisley fabric on a homemade tail to being one of Netflix’s most unexpected mermaid stars. Her journey is a splash of activism, creativity, and self-love, proving that liberation can start with a fantasy and blossom into a vibrant...

When people think of poetry, some can think it's just pretty words, but for Deanna Repose-Oaks it’s the secret weapon behind surviving a lifetime of trauma, mental health battles, and a crazy family saga. She’s penned six poetry books, each one a raw, beautiful reflection of her journey through chaos, depression, and healing. Deanna opens up about her tumultuous past: being adopted, growing up ami...

Content creators are finally beginning to talk about the toll fame takes on mental health, and Andy Neal has been talking about it for a while. He went from 5,000 followers to international news in just months, all while balancing hiking, body positivity, and the reality of living in the spotlight. He dives into how viral fame isn’t just about likes: it’s about managing the unexpected attention, t...

Most of us have been conditioned to see anger as a dangerous, destructive force, but what if we’ve been totally wrong? Davina Hehn flips the narrative, revealing how anger is actually a vital compass guiding us toward self-awareness, healing, and transformation. Davina shares her wild personal journey from Hulk-smashing walls to masterfully managing her rage all while navigating marriage, parentin...

CONTENT WARNING: suicidal ideation, attempts & passive suicidality Most conversations about mental health tiptoe around the passive side of suicidality, but Olivia Meyer and I are here to blow the lid off that silence. When surviving multiple suicide attempts, you realize it's not just about wanting to die, sometimes it’s just about wanting the pain to stop, and nobody talks about that. You’ll...

Most people think podcasts are all about Hollywood gossip or the latest TikTok trends. Franky Corcoran proves it’s also about mental health, sobriety, and busting imposter syndrome wide open, all while joking about dogs eating cat poop. Yup, this episode isn’t your typical HME story; it’s a candid, hilarious deep dive into navigating life’s toughest moments with authenticity and humor. Franky’s jo...

Most of us are just trying to keep it together, but what if the key to self-healing is blending music, therapy, and a little bit of parts work? Justin Randolph: songwriter, trauma-informed artist, and guy who moved his family to Thailand drops some seriously mind-expanding insights that could revolutionize how you handle your inner chaos. Justin's story is a wild ride through musical journeys, men...

Most entrepreneurs are one bad mental health day away from meltdown mode... unless they listen to this. Christi Johnson reveals her struggle with a burnout so severe, it shut her business down & almost made her lose herself completely. But that didn't keep her down, she’s now building a business and life that prioritize her mental health first . Her story is a rollercoaster from hypomanic epis...

Most pageant queens are all glitz, glam, and a sprinkle of cattiness, but Gillian DiAddazio is rewriting the script. After retiring her crown at 16 and making a bold comeback as an adult, she proves that authenticity beats perfection every time. You’ll discover how Gillian’s journey from shy girl to pageant queen transformed her outlook, and why modern pageantry is more about integrity and purpose...

Most people think bipolar diagnosis is something that magically appears in your late teens or early twenties. Bri McKay? She got it at just seven years old after a hospital stay at age five and a lot of research. She’s not just a storyteller; she’s breaking down childhood mental health mysteries that most adults don’t even get until they’re well into therapy. Bri’s candidly sharing her journey, fr...

Michelle Savage is here to blow the lid off that myth. She’s a mindset and nervous system coach who one day realized that regulating her body’s signals, not just her thoughts, was the secret to actually transforming her life and unlocking her best self. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle of stress, anxiety, or relapse... this episode is your new best friend. Michelle shares her incredible story...

Think you know all there is about music, mystery, and making a splash? Think again. Kevin McClure’s journey from teenage pop-punker to mind-blowing indie artist isn’t just inspiring; it’s a masterclass in intentional storytelling. through lyrics, albums, and even his own life. Kevin’s new album, “Flawlessly Flawed,” isn’t just another record, it’s a philosophical rollercoaster about embracing all...

Josh Bell, host of the Real Reel podcast, spills the horror tea, sharing why he’s obsessed with slasher flicks, why horror is a safe zone for fear, and how movies turned him into a lifelong film nerd (spoiler: it’s not what you think).He breaks down the real-life inspirations behind classics like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and how even serial killers influence the genre’s dark brilliance. Curious...

Most romance writers start with love stories. Britton Ashley? She started with grief, then turned it into a series about family, healing, and second chances that’ll hit you right in the feels. If your grandma’s passing made you question everything, her journey from heartbreak to happily ever after is exactly what you need to hear. Britton’s got a refreshingly real take on writing from the heart: s...

Your favorite indie singer-songwriter just went deep, and it’s worth every emotional mile. Imagine pouring your soul into a record about the toughest battles with mental health, grief, and identity, and then sharing it with the world. Reeya Banerjee did just that, turning her personal pain into a raw, healing album called  The Way Up . Yep, it’s a record about falling apart and rising stronger, an...

Ever wonder how to create a life that feels as good as it looks, without the hype? Ana Jones, the bliss facilitator with a Mexican passport and a Lisbon address, spills her secrets on transforming inner chaos into lightness and joy. She’s cracked the code on ancestral trauma, emotional freedom, and why you’re not as “special” (in a good way) as you think. Spoiler alert: everyone’s been through it,...

This week I had Clara Ritger on, and we talked about how she navigates the world of chronic pain, globe-trotting adventures, and the transformative power of meditation. From the unexpected twists of medical challenges to the serene landscapes of her travels, Clara shares her unique insights and humor in embracing life's chaos. Discover how meditation became her anchor, turning pain into peace and...

Join me this week as I dive into the world of pop punk with Tony, Mike & Nick from their band: Nonsense. Discover the origins of their quirky name, the creative process behind their hit singles, and the unexpected journey from garage jams to the stage. With a mix of humor, heartfelt stories, and a dash of chaos, this episode is a must-listen for music lovers and aspiring rockstars alike. Tune...